THE FUNERAL LADY OF BETHEL TOWN - 90-year-old attends thousands of burials

Anita Lawrence, a strong 90-year-old resident of Ginger Piece in Bethel Town, Westmoreland, hardly misses a funeral. Her attendance record is so 'good' that she is known throughout the community as 'Funeral Woman'.

When THE WESTERN STAR visited the home of the golden ager recently, she was seen standing over a wood fire while busy cooking her dinner. She said that she has attended the funerals for everyone who has passed away in her community over the past 30 years.

"Mi thank di Lord fi reach weh mi reach, and although mi health no good, him still a help mi fi go on," Lawrence said.

She said she had children, two of whom are alive.

"A domestic work and higgling mi use to do fi mi living, but mi caah manage that no more. Nowadays mi just stay home and go a mi funeral dem ... . Mi go a everybody funeral inna the community who dead, both young and old, right now mi have over a thousand funeral programme inna mi house."

And to prove her point, Lawrence disappeared into her house before returning with an old suitcase and a knitted bag laden with funeral programmes, dating back to 1989.

Lawrence's son, Alexander Rose, told THE WESTERN STAR that people look forward to seeing his mother at burials.

"There is not a funeral weh mama don't go to, and people so use to har a go funeral that as a funeral start, a she dem a look fah," he stated.

At 90, Lawrence is suffering from diabetes and arthritis. She does not have death on her mind, but she is convinced that when she passes, she will get one of the biggest funerals in Westmoreland.